Samoa is for women with strong hearts and will.
Today, the 15 Miss Samoa contestants were given a very golden opportunity.
One where they learnt from one of the most influential female leaders in Samoa and the Pacific, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
The Prime Minister and the contestants held a discussion at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s and Bungalows on Tuesday morning.
Fiame imparted the wisdom of using their voices to project their message.
“The first thing I want to share with you this morning young ladies, your voice, public speaking, you need to learn how to project your voice. You’re very soft spoken young ladies. This is the first thing you need to notice about any space you’re in, small space, big space whatever kind of space you have to get the feel of what you need to do with your voice to project your message,” she said.
Addressing Prime Minister Fiame during discussions Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke thanked her role model for what she does for the nation.
“Every chance I get to see you it’s an honour. Everything you do is historic,” said Miss Samoa.
And commending the work of the Prime Minister representing the small island of Samoa on the international stages.
“I wanted to say thank you for everything that you do,” she says. “You set the example, you show us all what is possible, and you lead the way for us.”
Moemoana told the Prime Minister how she inspires her as a young woman as she leads as a great example of how to walk, how to talk and how to act.
“Thank you Prime Minister of Samoa for being that inspiration for me and all of our girls here!”
“You come from humble beginnings but I admire the way that no matter where you go, how far you make it in life you always acknowledge and honour those humble beginnings, and the roots of who you are so thank you for being that example for all of the ladies here,” she said.
“And, I wish you and pray for your strength and your wisdom to keep leading our nation of Samoa and nothing that you do goes unnoticed.”
She also took the opportunity to say “thank you Fiame for everything that you do for us and I am really excited and grateful that our ladies get to learn from you today.”
The meeting was an emotional and exciting opportunity for the contestants.
One of those contestants who was unable to keep her emotions in checked, Miss Samoa Victoria Chantelle Tautunuafatasi told the Prime Minister that, “I always get emotional when I talk about women. I think it’s incredible the strength that we hold and the potential that we all have.”
Chantelle added that she feels honoured and blessed to be in a room with so many incredible women who after the pageant will go on to represent and make a mark on Samoa.
Authored by Leota Marc Membrere
